My beloved Shop Dog is a Pit Bull. We had no idea, until one of the vets that helped heal her after she was rescued as a pup, told us. I have to say, we were greatly taken aback. A Pit Bull?? Why, they're dangerous!!!

But we had already lived with Shop for a month by then, and it only took us about 10 seconds to get over the shock. No way, uh-uh. Shop Dog is the sweetest dog ever to grace this earth. Whoever declared pit bulls dangerous as a breed must just be plain ol' dead wrong, and we had Shop to prove it. It's been 15 years sibce then, and Shop Dog is still living proof.

Here's what I've learned about pit bulls. They are physically strong and love a challenge. They are absolutely fearless. They have an immense, intense joy of life; they'll never give it up. They form fierce loyalties and will protect their loved ones without question. They have huge hearts and their capacity for love is boundless. Once they are loved and form a bond, nothing can break it. They want nothing more than to love and be loved. They snuggle like big goofy bunnies.

They can also be trained to fight because of their strength, tenacity and fearlessness, especially when treated cruelly such that their only option to stay alive is to fight and fight again in order to stay alive. In dog-fight rings, in feral packs, or chained in a yard with no hope, I have no doubt they can, and do, attack and kill when starving or threatened. Once they go into battle, it's to the death. But who's fault is it that these magnificent dogs are put in those circs? Who trains them to fight, abandons their puppies to the street to fend for themselves, buys them for street cred then chains them out back with little care and zero love? Humans. We are the problem, not the dogs. If there be legislation, let it address the real problem. This kind of blanket legislation (against any breed of dog) just makes me sick. The dogs are not the problem.

No, the dogs aren't the problem, its' the cruel people who teach them to be mean that's at the bottom of the problem. I've known pitties too who were just overgrown sweeties who wanted to sit on your lap and be loved.